Periodic Reporting for period 1 - SmartDtd (Smart Household Waste Management)
Reporting period: 2018-06-01 to 2018-09-30
One of the most widely proposed solutions to reduce the amount of per-house waste generation is door-to-door (DtD) waste collection schemes coupled with pay-as-you-throw (PAYT) systems. Accurately and efficiently weighing small waste bags such as those generated by households all over Europe is a prerequisite of fair and succesfull DtD+PAYT schemes. However, currently existing systems either do not allow for accurate weighing or are not functionally integrated within the refuse truck. Therefore, designing and marketing a new generation of weighing devices that can both be integrated in the refuse truck and accurately weight small amounts is key for the successful implementation of DtD+PAYT schemes. SmartDtD offers a novel technical solution to accurately and effectively weight small bags for the waste management sector based on: (1) its unprecedented ability to weight with a precision of 100 g; (2) its innovative data processing, GPS positioning and wireless communication systems and; (3) the user-friendly computer interface.
On the technical side, we continued developing our current prototype and tested it under laboratory conditions. A technical optimization work plan has been scheduled along with a estimation of human and material resources required. We have also performed a detailed market analysis, verifying the commercial potential to support our go-to-market activities, and have undertaken a global Freedom-To-Operate analysis. This analysis confirmed our thinking regarding the Intellectual Property management strategy for SmartDtd. On the economic side, we have developed a detailed business plan including revenues and costs analysis, commercialization plan and assessment of the commercial and technical risks associated to the execution, including a financial viability plan and 3-scenario projections for the period 2021-2025.
To the best of our knowledge, none of our competitors has yet developed a highly accurate system (100 g), which will place Distromel at the forefront of engineering companies operating in the EU offering economic, smart weighing solutions for the waste collection market.
Poor waste management can further contribute to the pollution of land, rivers and water bodies as well as to climate change, with the consequent reduction of the quality of life of human societies. Thus, implementing DtD+PAYT schemes aided by smart technological systems like ours will be a socially responsible and environmentally friendly way to contribute towards a more just and greener society where smart cities are the norm and not the exception.
Poor waste management can further contribute to the pollution of land, rivers and water bodies as well as to climate change, with the consequent reduction of the quality of life of human societies. Thus, implementing DtD+PAYT schemes aided by smart technological systems like ours will be a socially responsible and environmentally friendly way to contribute towards a more just and greener society where smart cities are the norm and not the exception.